Moistening and sealing device.



R. F. CRITTENDEN.

MOISTENING AND SEALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16. 1914.

1,157,619. Patented 001.19, 1915.

M124. a 1W1 ra n nib.

RICHARD F. CRITTENDEN, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR '10 KEIT-SEAL COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION.

MOISTENING- AND SEALING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

Application filed May 16. 1914. Serial No. 839,154.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD F. CRITTEN- DEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Moistening and Sealing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for moistening the gummed edge of the flap of an envelop and sealing the same and the object thereof is to provide a simple device for hat purpose.

In the drawings forming a part of this application: Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device with parts broken away for clearness of illustration. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

My device consists of a small receptacle 5 for holding Water which is of any convenient size and made from any suitable material and of any desired configuration. I prefer to form the receptacle of sheet metal and in the shape of a parallelepiped and of a size to be contained in a vest pocket when the owner uses it while traveling. For desk use I would prefer a larger size.

In the preferred form the ends are parallelograms whose sides are much longer than their ends. In one of the ends which I will call the top I cut a central longitudinal narrow slot 6 which is shorter than the width of the receptacle. In the receptacle I place a bearing shelf 7 at a distance of about an inch from the top and parallel therewith. This bearing shelf fits the outer walls so snugly that the frictional engagement therewith is sufficient to hold it in place. In the bearing shelf is a central longitudinal slot 8 of the same dimensions as the slotin the top. In the receptacle I mount a stopper 9 which is as long as the receptacle is wide. In the upper edge of this stopper are notches 10 so that the upper edge between the notches may project through the slot in the top. The stopper has legs 11 that project through the slot in the bearing shelf at the ends thereof as best shown in Fig. 1. Around these legs and resting on the bearing shelf are springs 12 which hold the stopper with its upper edge projecting slightly through the slot in the top of the receptacle. Near the end opposite the slot and preferably in the edge of the receptacle is filling port 13 which is normally closed by a screw cap 14. The thickness of the stopper 11 is a little less than the width of the slot so that when moistening the flap of an envelop water may be forced out of the slot against the flap when the stopper is pressed thereon.

In the use of my device the receptacle is filled with water and the cap closing the filling port screwed into place. The user then draws the top across the gummed portion of the flap and at the same time presses down on the flap thereby forcing the stopper back into the receptacle. The movement of the stopper into the receptacle forces enough water out of the slot around the stopper to properly moisten the flap. He then positions the flap and with the other end, sides or edges of the receptacle forces the flap into engagement with the other portions of the envelop thereby sealing the same. The device is also useful in moistening the postage stamps required to be put on the envelop and uniting the same to the en- 4 velop.

It will be observed that the stopper when not in use protrudes through the slot a sufficient distance that when it is pressed back into the receptacle in use it displaces enough water to moisten the desired portion of the flap or to moisten stamps. The slot can be placed in other portions besides the top.

Having described my invention What I claim is:

A moistening and sealing device comprising a receptacle having a slot in its top and a filling port in one of its other surfaces; a removable closure for said port; a bearing shelf in said receptacle a short distance from the top, said shelf having a slot therein; a stopper having notches at the ends of its upper edge and legs at its lower edge, the upper edge projecting slightly through the slot in the top and the legs projecting through the slot in the bearing shelf; and springs coiled around the legs of the stopper between the shelf and top.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of April, 1914.

R. F. GRITTENDEN.

Witnesses:

G. E. HARPHAM, FRANK lVATnnrmLn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

